Important Blood Tests to Assess Your CVD Risk
Did you know heart disease is the #1 leading cause of death in the U.S.? And unfortunately, the number of fatalities increases each year.
Heart disease is a chronic disease that is largely preventable through lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, etc.
Getting yearly bloodwork is a great preventative tool to assess your health status and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Heart disease includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can block the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.
The traditional risk factors for heart disease are high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history, diabetes, smoking, being post-menopausal for women, and being older than 45 for men. It’s important to get YEARLY blood work done with your doctor so you can assess your risk.
Important Blood Tests:
High sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hs-CRP) - A blood test that identifies high levels of inflammation and an increased risk for heart disease.
Lipid Panel - Provides information on your levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLs, and HDLs, which are associated with the risk of heart disease.
Lipoprotein (a) - a form of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) in which another protein, called Apo(a), is attached to each LDL particle as it carries cholesterol around in the body. Having elevated blood levels of Lipoprotein (a) raises a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke beyond what is normally seen from elevated LDL cholesterol alone. This is believed to be due to the Apo(a) protein, which may reduce the body’s ability to break down clots.
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) - ApoB is a protein produced in the liver and intestine that provides structure to triglyceride (TG) carrying atherogenic lipoprotein particles. Elevated levels of ApoB are significant predictors of heart disease and are a more significant indicator of CVD than LDL cholesterol.
Homocysteine - Homocysteine is a thiol-containing amino acid formed from methionine. Values >15 µmol/L have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) - Measures 14 different substances in your blood. It provides important information about your body's electrolyte balance, glucose, liver, kidneys, and metabolism.
Ask your healthcare provider about comprehensive testing. It’s important to know your risk so you can make necessary interventions.
My favorite lab to assess cardiovascular health is Boston Heart Diagnostics. Questions about testing? Let’s connect.
